This talk illustrates the smartness of things with a focus on the underlying process that made them smart and that is going to make them smarter. A thing is not smart by nature or by design – or in the IT context its mere connectedness, intelligence, or best practice – but by its service value, trustfulness, and ease of use. Examples for such services are given from a variety of industries and areas. Furthermore, the talk focuses on the next-generation skills required for the indispensable digital transformation of cities, societies and economies.
Keywords: digital economy, smart cities, smart societies, IoT, big data, education
